GTV Suspension Upgrade Suggestions

[GTV4EVR]

I have a 1974 GTV 2000. I want to upgrade my suspension and am looking for suggestions / insites. It is primarily a fun road car but is also used for Autocross and track events. So far, I am looking at:
David Rugh Springs...he recommends Bilstein shocks and stock sway bars.
EB Spares sells a "Harvey Bailey" set up with springs, "special" Bilstein shocks and a larger front sway bar
Ward & Dean springs with ? shocks and ? sway bars.

Any other suggestions or comments about the "best" suspension for a GTV?

Thanks folks!

[Zinhead]

I've been looking for a street suspension for my GTV as well. Here is what I have found from my conversations with the venders:

Alfa Ricambi: Ricambi offers three springs sets, sports, supersports and track. The sports are the lightest sprung but aren't available and may not be available in the future. The supersports lower the car about one inch and are 50% stiffer than stock.

International: Thier spring set is 15% stiffer than stock and lowers the car by slightly less than one inch. They recommend a heavier rear sway bar and KYB shocks although Koni and Bilstiens will work.

Centerline: These springs are 50% stiffer than stock and lower the car one inch. They recommend the stock sway bars and Konis or Bilstiens shocks.

Dave Rugh: Dave's front springs are 30% stiffer and the rears are 50% stiffer. Ride height is slightly lower in front and slight higher in rear (?). Recommends stock sway bars with Bilstiens.

Ward & Deane: Alan's road springs are 50% stiffer than stock and are sold with a larger rear bar. They lower the car one inch. Can use either Koni's or Bilstiens.

Other overseas venders include OKparts in Germany, EB spares in England and Beninca in Australia. From the digest, the EB spares suspension is similar to that of Ward and Dean. www.alfarestore.com has the OKparts suspension installed.

The Bilstiens are generally stiffer than the Koni's. Being gas pressure, the Bilstiens add a little to the ride height. I haven't decided which way to go, but seeing as my vehicle will mostly be a street car and the roads around here aren't to good, I am leaning toward the International or Dave Rugh pieces.

[Azzurri GTV]

My 1974 GTV has Shankle front and rear sway bars and HAD shankle springs and Bilstein shocks but i diden't like the ride. I NOW have ricambi super sport springs and Koni red shocks (i kept the shankle sway bars on the car) and i absolutly love the setup. I hope this helps!

[GTV4EVR]

My "knowledge" is purely second hand, but I thought that the rear of GTVs was usually made less stiff, not more. Don't some remove the rear sway bar. How does this fit with the W&D set up of a larger rear bar? My 74 GTV is at least 3" higher than my 69 GTV was so I definately want to go lower and stiffer, but want to maintain some balance. My other car is an Audi A4 with H&R Race springs, so I don't want the Alfa to be too loose!

[Azzurri GTV]

If you want your car lower and stiffer i think you have 2 options. 1 you can just trim the original springs that you have and that will make the car a little stiffer (some people would say don't trim the springs because it removes the spring rate) or 2 you put stiffer springs from ricambi, Dave Rugh, Ward & Deane, or Centerline and that will lower the car 1 1/2 inch from original i belive.

[genericwood]

I am surprised to hear two things related to the International Auto set up. I have their sport street springs in my '74 GTV. They seem much stiffer than the 15% they quoted. I wouldn't want anything stiffer for a car that sees any serious amount of street use. Also, from my experience, I would NOT put on a bigger rear bar. My car is pretty well balanced, but tends to oversteer at the limit. I'm thinking about trying it with the rear bar disconnected next weekend at Road America. Alternatively, I will go with a bigger front bar. With this set up, I have had good results with Koni Red's set about 1/2 way on the front and full-soft on the rear.

Erik

[JoeCab]

Azzuri GTV:

You said that you had Shankle Springs but swapped them out for Ricambi springs.

I'm confused: Ricambi bought the Shankle product line a while back. Their springs are the same as the ones formerly sold by John Shankle

Joe

[Ron.C]

Hi;

My GT Junior has IAP Springs, red Koni & 5/8" rear Sway bar it really fun.
Under steer is decreased. However it seems that on non flat road over steer is increased.

[Azzurri GTV]

Quote:

Originally posted by JoeCab Azzurri GTV: You said that you had Shankle Springs but swapped them out for Ricambi springs. I'm confused: Ricambi bought the Shankle product line a while back. Their springs are the same as the ones formerly sold by John Shankle Joe

[djone101]

My setup for what it's worth:

I have a copy of the Harvey Bailey set up. 190lb rear springs 600lb front with a 27mm front anti roll bar and no rear bar. Ride height about 35mm lower than stock, Koni reds set to 2/3 stiff front 2/3 soft rear, running 195 60 15 Pirelli (or 195 50 15 Yoko) I find the handling really good and the ride fine for even a long run.

No plans to change this setup - the only other thing I would like to do is a Panhard rod on the rear.

[GTV4EVR]

Does anyone here have any experience the specially valved Bilsteins that EB Spares sells to compliment their Harvey Bailey set up?

[67GTV]

Quote:

Originally posted by djone101 My setup for what it's worth: I have a copy of the Harvey Bailey set up. 190lb rear springs 600lb front with a 27mm front anti roll bar and no rear bar. Ride height about 35mm lower than stock, Koni reds set to 2/3 stiff front 2/3 soft rear, running 195 60 15 Pirelli (or 195 50 15 Yoko) I find the handling really good and the ride fine for even a long run. No plans to change this setup - the only other thing I would like to do is a Panhard rod on the rear.

[GTV4EVR]

Kai,

From the EB Spares web site:

http://www.ebspares.co.uk/news6.htm

SPRINGS & BAR KIT
We are agents for the well known Harvey-Bailey spring & bar kits. Developed by Rhoddy Harvey-Bailey who was works driver for Autodelta in the 1960s. The kits are available for Bertone GTV, Giulia saloon, 75 range------and to special order for 101 Giulia, Montreal etc. Coming later this year---- a kit for the 156. These suspension kits are rated as the best. We have sold over 600 kits of bars and springs to Alfa enthusiasts worldwide and note how a single sale brings repeat business from the purchaser's friends who are amazed by the performance, improved driveability and enhanced road holding.

[djone101]

Kai,

I think Ken's filled us in on who Rhoddy Harvey Bailey is (In fact a colleage of mine saw him a couple of weeks ago developing suspension packages for new TVRs - so he's still around). The only reason I copied the set-up was I'm a cheap skate and had a source of cheap custom anti roll bars...

I have never had a problem with rubbing on the rears, the wheel arch profile is the same as the later cars. I have had to dial a bit of the front lock out so my car has an even worse turning circke than stock, but otherwise no issues.

Out of curiosity is the turning circle on a left hand drive car as bad as the right hand drive? - getting into car parks always seems a lot of effort for me.......

[GTV4EVR]

Quote:

Originally posted by djone101 Out of curiosity is the turning circle on a left hand drive car as bad as the right hand drive? - getting into car parks always seems a lot of effort for me.......